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Known as Hell's Half Acre in the glory days of the Old West, downtown Fort Worth was a hangout for outlaws, cattlemen, cowboys, gamblers and other "legends" of the Old West - Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, even Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Today, downtown Fort Worth has preserved the architecture and rich heritage of Fort Worth's colorful past through the development of Sundance Square, a 35-block collection of graciously restored and replicated turn-of-the-century storefronts, appointed with colorful landscaping and brick-paved streets.
This area includes some of Fort Worth's oldest and architectually unique structures, which now house some 50 shops, restaurants, theatres, bars and clubs, all within walking distance of each other. Many of these buildings date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s and bear historical plaques and markers. They are:
The Plaza Hotel, 301 Main St., was built in 1908 by Winfield Scott, one of Fort Worth's leading citizens. Cited as the best remaining example in Fort Worth of a small "cattle-era" hotel, the building is home to Mercury Chop House and Cowtown Diner.
The Sid Richardson Building, 309 Main St., is a replica of the original 1885 building and features the Sid Richardson Museum and Gift Shop. It was reconstructed in 1981 and remodeled and expanded in 2007.
The Domino Building, 311 Main St., is an exact replica of a building built in 1885 that housed "Buck's Domino Parlor," a popular gaming house. The building was reconstructed in 1981.
The Knights of Pythias Hall, 327 Main St., was constructed in 1881 as the first Pythian Temple erected in the world and the only one with a cornerstone laid by Justus H. Rathbone, founder of the order. An addition to the Castle Hall, the Knights of Pythias Club Building, was completed in 1920 and later restored in 1981.
The Land Title Building at Commerce and Fourth Street, is one of the oldest buildings in Fort Worth. Built in 1889, the building was designed by architects Haggard and Sanguinet and is decorated with an owl, sandstone and stained glass windows. In 1996 the building was expanded. Long-time tenant, The Flying Saucer Beer Emporium retained much of the original architectural flavor of the building during renovation.
The Burk Burnett Building at 500 Main St., was Fort Worth's first true skyscraper. The 12-story building, built in 1914 and restored in 1981 and 1984 is on the National Historic Register. Worthington National Bank is on the ground level.
The Jett Building, 400 Main St., was completed in 1902, closely resembling Frank Lloyd Wright's Larkin Building. "The Chisholm Trail" is a trompe l'oeil mural created by Richard Haas in 1985 that spans the building's southern façade, and commemorates the Fort Worth segment of the Chisholm Trail cattle drives of 1867-1875. The building is home to 95.9 The Ranch and Jamba Juice.
The Conn Building, 310 Main St., was built in 1906 and was one of the first buildings restored in 1981. The current tenant is the Dallas Cowboys Team Shop.
The Morris Building, 306-308 Main St., was built in 1906, restored in 1981, and is the original site of the White Elephant Saloon. Luke Short, owner of this notorious watering hole, shot and killed former City Marshall T.I. "Long Haired" Jim Courtwright in a gun fight in the street yards away from this building. Earth Bones and Travel Services Everywhere are the current tenants.
The Weber Building, 300-302 Main St., dates back to 1885 and is one of Fort Worth's oldest structures. The building was remodeled in 1915 and restored in 1981. It is currently the home of Thomas Kinkade Gallery.
The Western Union Telegraph Building, 314-318 Main on the corner of Third and Main St., and built in 1930-31, served as Western Union's area headquarters for 50 years. Razzoo's Cajun Café and the Texas Rangers Team Shop are located on the street level of the building, with offices on the top floor.
The City National Bank Building, 315 Houston Street, was designed by Haggard and Sanguinet in 1884-85 and is one of Fort Worth's oldest commercial façades still intact. In 1910, an addition was added to the building and was damaged by fire between 1910-1920. In 1981 the building was restored by Thomas S. Woodward & Associates of Dallas.
The Sanger Building, 410 Houston St. was constructed in 1929 and once housed the first department store to be air-conditioned west of the Mississippi. The exterior was restored in 1986 and in 1993 the upper floors were converted to 59 loft apartments. Leddy's Ranch at Sundance is a ground floor tenant.
The Woolworth Building, 501 Houston St., was built in 1926 and housed the F.W. Woolworth Company to 1990. The three-story building is an Art Deco Neoclassical Revival design by Wiley G. Clarkson, head of one of the largest architectural firms in Fort Worth from the 1920s through the 1940s. Current tenants include Scat Jazz Lounge, Simply Fondue, Jos. A. Bank and Milan Art Gallery.
What once was a decaying urban area has been showcased in the Wall Street Journal, Town & Country, Southern Living and Historic Preservation. In addition, the City of Fort Worth received the National League of Cities James Howland Award for Urban Enrichment for the transformation that has taken place in the city's central business district.
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